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Cider & Mino Make a Splash at The Seas in EPCOT! 🥬💙
There are two new adorable faces at The Sea Base Aquarium in EPCOT! After the previous manatee residents moved to a new home, Cider and Mino arrived as the latest guests in Disney’s manatee rehabilitation program. These gentle giants are vacationing at Walt Disney World, where visitors can see them lazily floating, munching on lettuce, and getting the care they need before being released back into the wild. Cider, a 3-to-4-year-old orphan, was lucky enough to be adopted by another manatee mom and is now a healthy 750 pounds! Her new tankmate, Mino, is a 2 ½-year-old weighing in at 470 pounds—but he still needs to pack on a few more pounds before he’s ready for life beyond EPCOT.
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If you stop by, you might notice painted markings on their backs—Cider has a stripe, and Mino has an “M” to help Cast Members tell them apart. While they were a little shy at first, they quickly warmed up to their new environment, especially once lettuce started rolling in! The second-floor viewing area has a chalkboard with their latest updates, and friendly Cast Members are always happy to share fun facts about these incredibly important (and irresistibly cute) animals. Disney’s conservation efforts are part of a larger mission to protect Florida’s manatee population, which, despite improving numbers, remains a vulnerable species.
Disney’s conservation efforts are part of a larger mission to protect Florida’s manatee population, which, despite improving numbers, remains a vulnerable species. Manatees were once classified as endangered, and while conservation efforts have helped increase their numbers, they are still listed as threatened due to ongoing dangers like boat strikes, habitat loss, and pollution. Protected by federal and state laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, these gentle creatures play a vital role in their ecosystems. Their behaviors even help scientists monitor water quality and habitat health.
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With EPCOT’s manatee care program now focused on short-term rehabilitation, we’ll likely see many more manatees coming through The Seas in the future. But for now, Cider and Mino are the stars of the show! If you’re visiting EPCOT, don’t forget to swing by SeaBase Aquarium to catch a glimpse of these floating potatoes as they chomp, nap, and float their way into everyone’s hearts! 🥬🐮💙
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